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London is steeped in royal history, magnificent architecture and picturesque views. If you plan your visit, you can see many of the top London tourist attractions in just a few days. Several are within walking distance of each other, while a few are a short tube or bus ride away. If you’re planning to hit up multiple attractions, you may want to look into purchasing a sightseeing pass such as The London Pass, which enables travelers to access many tourist sites in London, such as Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London, for a reduced cost and takes them to the front of the line.

Enjoy Buckingham Palace and Changing of the Guard

No trip to London is complete without a visit to the official residence of the Queen. You can roam over a dozen state rooms that contain treasures from the royal family. It’s like walking into a time capsule with elements from several eras all in one place. Keep in mind that the palace is not open year-round, so plan your trip carefully. Visitors are allowed on the palace grounds for around 10 weeks in the summer months, and select dates in the winter, spring and fall, so check in advance before you head over. Tickets must be purchased at least a few days in advance, and your admission is time-stamped, which means that you only can use your ticket on the day and time you select. Adult tickets are £20‒£30 ($25‒$40).

Try to time your visit with the Changing the Guard ceremony to get a real feel for royal pageantry. No tickets are required for this elaborate affair. At 11 a.m. daily in the summer and select days throughout the rest of the year, you can watch one regiment take over for another and march with horn-filled musical accompaniment. Note that the state rooms are on the opposite side of the palace from the guard ceremony, so you won’t be able to catch a glimpse of them from one of the state rooms. If you’re planning to visit the palace and watch the guard ceremony in one day, opt to watch the guards first; then head to the rest of the palace.

Explore the Tower of London and Tower Bridge

If you’re looking for history, mystery and intrigue, head to the Tower of London, which is where legends such as Guy Fawkes, Anne Boleyn and Sir Walter Raleigh were once held prisoner. Open daily, your £20‒£30 ($25‒$40) ticket includes access to a number of exhibitions and tours, including the infamous ravens, which are called the guardians of the Tower. Purchase your ticket online for a discount and to skip the long lines. Later, take a 10-minute walk to Tower Bridge, one of the most recognizable monuments in the world. Check the website for the bridge lift schedule, so you can marvel at the feat of engineering and architecture. The Tower Bridge is open daily and tickets cost around £10 ($13).

Get Lost in the British Museum

Free and open daily, the British Museum contains some of the most valuable treasures in the world, including the Rosetta Stone. The museum holds regular exhibitions that feature art and historical items from all corners of the globe. Head to any gallery within the museum for a free half-hour tour. Tours run daily at regular intervals, but be sure to check the schedule upon your arrival. For £10‒£20 $(13‒$25), the museum offers an around-the-world tour, during which a guide walks you through different areas in the museum, so you can see all the major treasures.

Relax in Trafalgar Square

One of the most-visited London attractions, Trafalgar Square is a vibrant courtyard in the middle of the city. At any given time, you’ll find crowds of tourists sitting on the steps, posing in front of the fountains, and marveling at the statues and monuments. The free public space is the home of Nelson’s Column, which honors the admiral for his victory in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The towering monument is flanked by majestic lions, which are said to protect Nelson. Take a breather from your busy sightseeing schedule to stroll around the fountains. Grab an ice cream, some candy floss or a bag of popcorn from a nearby vendor.

Snap a Picture of Big Ben and Parliament

The London skyline is known for this iconic landmark. Part of the Parliament buildings, Big Ben is often what visitors call the “clock tower,” though the name actually just refers to the bell. While visitors can no longer tour the inside of the tower because of ongoing renovations, at the time of publication, the Big Ben team is offering free monthly talks about the history and workings of the tower. Check the UK Parliament website for the schedule. Book your tickets in advance; they are snapped up quickly.

A number of other free tours are also available that visit the House of Parliament, all on Saturdays throughout the year. Even if you’re not planning to head inside for a tour, take a few moments to take some pictures of this historic structure. The best spot to capture the Parliament buildings and the clock tower is from directly across the river Thames. Take the nearby Westminster Bridge, and on the other side, you can avoid the crowds of pedestrians to take a picture of the entire site.

Relish the History of Westminster Abbey

Barely a 10-minute walk from Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, a World Heritage Site that's more than a thousand years old, was founded in 960 A.D. Westminster Abbey has been the site of royal coronations since 1066. A special place in royal history, the church has hosted more than a dozen royal weddings, including the wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. More than 3,000 famous people are buried on the grounds of the church, including Jane Austen, Charles Darwin and Sir Isaac Newton.

Because it’s a working church, it’s not always open to visitors. Before you head there, check if the building is open to tourists. In general, Westminster Abbey is open to the public Monday through Saturday from morning until afternoon unless a special event is planned. Entrance tickets cost around £20 ($25) if you purchase them online in advance. If you want to save some money and are available in the evening, entrance is half-price on Wednesdays after 4:30 p.m. If you go to Westminster Abbey to worship, it’s free. When visiting, whether as a tourist or a worshiper, be respectful of the surroundings; at any time of day, you’ll find people praying in various parts of the church. If you go in the morning and want a full English breakfast, the Cellarium Cafe in the Abbey serves a hearty meal with all the traditional fixings.

Marvel at St. Paul’s Cathedral

One of the most spectacular churches in the world, St. Paul’s Cathedral is a must-see London attraction. The massive, famous dome is an integral part of the London skyline. The church is built on top of the ruins of a Roman temple. St. Paul’s Cathedral was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and then rebuilt. Purchase your ticket in advance online to save a bit on entry fees. The cathedral is open to visitors Monday through to Saturday and costs £15‒£20 ($20‒$25). Once inside, head to the dome and the Whispering Gallery, which is 259 steps up. It’s said that if you whisper against a wall, it will be audible on the other side of the dome because of the building’s acoustics. If you’re interested in a full leg workout, climb the 528 steps up to the highest part of the dome to the Golden Gallery to enjoy a panoramic view of London.

Roam Around Covent Garden and the Theater District

Stroll along the streets of the car-free market area in the West End of London, where you’ll find some high-end retailers such as Burberry and The Shop at Bluebird. Stop for a bite to eat at a five-star restaurant or a market stall. To see all the major sights in the area, take one of the free walking tours, which are offered daily starting at Covent Garden Piazza at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Covent Garden is within walking distance of more than a dozen theaters, so catch a show in the evening. The Royal National Theatre of London, about a 15-minute walk from the heart of Covent Garden, just across the Waterloo Bridge over the Thames, is arguably one of the greatest institutions in the world. You’ll have to book your tickets in advance of your trip as it’s a popular venue. If you manage to snag seats, you can catch new plays, musicals and reimagined classics.

Get a Bird’s-Eye View at the London Eye

If you’re not afraid of heights, try the London Eye. The world’s largest cantilevered observation wheel, it’s both an integral part of the London skyline and a top tourist attraction. The wheel has 32 capsules, one for each of London’s 32 boroughs. However, because of superstition, you won’t see a capsule 13, so the last numbered capsule is 33. Each capsule is pretty roomy, with enough space for around 25 people.

Purchase your tickets online to save around 10 percent and save time waiting in line. Open daily, this attraction is a relaxing way to see everything in London – from afar. The highest point of the wheel goes almost 450 feet in the air. A full revolution takes around 30 minutes, so you’ll have plenty of time to look at the sights. You’ll get a great view of Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and many other landmarks. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the outskirts of the city to Windsor Castle.

Relive the Harry Potter Experience

Just northwest of the city, visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour of the Making of Harry Potter. Whether you’re a Gryffindor or a Hufflepuff or just a Muggle, this is an experience you cannot pass up. To get to the studio, you’ll have to drive or take a bus or train. Regular buses make the 15-minute trek from Watford Junction. Note that these buses take cash only, and you’ll need to show a pre-purchased studio ticket to board the bus. You can also opt for a 20-minute train ride from London Euston station. Tour operators also offer packages if you’re traveling from the city center. A standard entrance ticket to the studio costs £40‒£50 ($50‒$65), and you should purchase yours in advance. The studio only allows a limited number of visitors at one time, and it’s a popular destination for tourists.

Once inside, you can explore some of the most iconic sets of the Harry Potter franchise, just as they appeared in the movies. Walk through the Great Hall, the Forbidden Forest and the infamous Platform 9 3/4. Explore the uniforms created for the game of Quidditch and see your favorite potion in the hundreds of jars in the classroom.

Top Tourist Sites in London: Honorable Mention

Perhaps not quite in the top 10, but just as exciting, Kew Gardens has a 250-year history. About a half-hour out of central London, the Royal Botanical Gardens, as they are officially called, are housed in Victorian glass houses. You’ll see plants from several different climate zones and an arboretum with more than 14,000 trees. Take a guided tour around the grounds on the Kew Explorer land train, which allows you to see the highlights. If you’re traveling with kids, Kew Gardens provides lots of room to roam freely and plenty of age-appropriate activities. Tickets to the gardens are £15‒£20 ($20‒$25), with an additional £5 ($7) for the train tour.

About the Author

Anam Ahmed is a Toronto-based writer and editor. She is an experienced world traveler, and enjoys writing about her adventures. Anam has traveled extensively in Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North America and the Caribbean. She has experience writing travel content for search engines and mapping software. Anam earned an M.A. from the University of Toronto and a B.A.H. from Queen's University. Learn more at www.anamahmed.ca.

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